Rite Cell Foundation

[andydormer]

How does everyone go about sterilising their 'rite-cell' plastic foundation?

I put a few sheets in my steam wax extractor (wallpaper stripper style) and it warped the plastic. I had emailed Mann Lake before doing this and they said it would be OK. They were wrong, so I'm glad I only experimented with a few sheets.

I guess boiling would have the same effect?
Do I just separate the rite-cell from the frames, give the plastic foundation a long soak in soda crystals, and boil / steam the wood frames?

Rite cell worked well with my bees, so would like to continue to use...

Thanks

 

[Walrus]

I think the wax melts at about 64 degrees C so you could soak in water at say 66 deg C so the wax melts off & hopefully it won't be too hot to warp the plastic. Then you can sterilise in bleach.

It might be worth testing with a small sample first - I haven't had to do this yet on mine.